I have only decorated two cakes so far, and both have had a thin layer of filling between the layers. I've used a stiff BC dam, and haven't yet had a bulge problem.

I'm going to be using a thicker layer of filling, so I need to know: after I put the dam on, and then the filling, I've read that I'm to let it settle for a minimum of 3 hrs. Does that mean NOT to put on the crumb coat? I hate having naked cake, as I'm afraid of drying out.

Go ahead and crumbcoat, it shouldn't interfere with the settling process. Any cracking or whatever in the crumbcoat would be covered up.

I fill and then cover with plastic wrap. I crumbcoat when I'm ready to ice my cake.

I crumb coat the sides and let it sit. If it buldges it will still push out the crumb coat and I can smooth it out before final icing.

I don't crumb coat the top because I use parchment paper to line all of my pans, so there is a piece of parchment paper on the top of the cake to prevent any drying. If you don't use anything in your pan, then i would suggest to crumbcoat the top too.

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